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In Memory of יהודה ליב בן נפתלי הרץ מרים בת שמחה and מאיר שמחה בן ברוך שמואל May their souls have a continous ascent Dedication opportunities are available. Donations are greatly appreciated, and are used strictly for publication and distributing purposes. Contact us via phone or at [email protected] CONTENT Preface 4 What is Shmiras Habris? 6 The severity of the sin 7 The power of Shmiras Habris 13 Practical reasons to be shomer habris 18 Halacha 21 How do I fight it? 22 Methods for facing the challenge 22 Helpful advice 35 How can I do teshuvah? 39 Teshuvah 39 Tikkunim 43 Mikvah 45 Introduction to the Tikkun Haklali 47 Why do I keep falling? 50 Understanding the growth process 51 Essential tools for the growth process 54 Know your own strength 57 Never give up! 59 Despair does not exist 59 Be strong! 64 Related works 69 The Tikkun Haklali with an 72-95 interlinear translation 4 Preface PREFACE This pamphlet contains information on the severe sin of wasting seed. Our sages, leaders, and holy tzadikim of every generation, revealed and taught the crucial importance of guarding the bris. They expounded on both the loftiness and beauty of guarding the bris, and the damage and devastating consequences caused by disregarding the bris. Shmiras Habris is one of the most basic tenants of our faith. Much of the information sourced in this pamphlet is compiled from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Rebbe Nachman foresaw that future generations would be very distant from holiness and that the world would be steeped in this temptation. He therefore conveyed its foremost importance, explaining how it is directly intertwined with all the other facets of serving Hashem. He taught that this is the single most important challenge that we as the nation of Yisroel have to overcome. Never before has sexual temptation been so accessible to its generation. With an inner burning desire, surrounded by an enticing, permissive world culture, where does one turn? Rebbe Nachman offers powerful insight, advice and endless motivation in the constant struggle against this temptation. The most important thing is to be informed. Knowledge is half the Preface 5 battle. One can then train oneself to confront and overcome one’s desires. — Rebbe Nachman’s teachings contain fascinating insights and tools for everyone. Specifically geared to our generation, his words offer joy, hope, and boundless strength to face all of our ongoing battles. They teach us how to serve Hashem with vigor and passion. Rebbe Nachman speaks to everyone individually regardless of one’s background and present spiritual standing. The role of a tzadik is to show that even one who is very low in spirituality is in fact still very close to Hashem, and even one who is strong in one’s service of Hashem may still be very distant. — Much of the information in the pamphlet is taken from the Sefer Likutey Eitzos (The Compilation of Advice) which summarizes thoughts from both the Sefer Likutey Moharan (The Teachings of Rebbe Nachman), and from the Sefer Sichos Haran (Conversations of Rebbe Nachman). Two other books that are occasionally quoted are Sefer Hamidos (The Book of Traits), and Meshivas Nefesh (Revival of the Soul). The information sourced in this pamphlet may be loosely translated, summarized, or paraphrased for organizational and clarification purposes. 6 What is Shmiras Habris? WHAT IS SHMIRAS HABRIS? The Jewish nation has always been separated from the other nations. We are the very purpose of creation. We can reach the highest levels and can achieve a direct connection to Hashem. However, when we sin and abandon our efforts to be holy, we cause great damage to our souls. Our holy sefarim reveal that the most damaging of all sins are those associated with impurity. The most common of these sins is wasting seed. When Avrohom Avinu was promised that his descen- dants would have the opportunity to reach the highest spiritual heights, it was on the condition that the Jewish people would be shomer habris (would guard the covenant). The most basic level of Shmiras Habris (guarding the covenant) required of every Jew, involves not committing any physical act of wasting seed, guarding one’s speech and hearing from impure conversation, controlling one’s thoughts, and guarding one’s sight. The low level of our generation has caused this topic to be ignored. As a result, many people are oblivious to the severity of this sin. In addition, many people do not know how to combat their desires or rectify their earlier sins. What is Shmiras Habris? 7 The Severity of the Sin Tortured souls Spiritual energy is everywhere. Someone who studies Torah and develops a firm connection to Hashem can feel it very strongly. But someone who damages the bris loses the ability to perceive holiness. — The Arizal writes that one draws down souls every time one spills seed. These souls are considered one’s children. The forces of evil then capture these souls and torture them, stealing their energy for themselves. These souls are greatly agitated and despise their father for doing this to them. They seek revenge on him causing him much suffering. — The forces of evil use the soul’s energy to give birth to lilim (demon like entities), which surround a person stealing one’s energy. They befuddle and implant in one’s mind confusing, impure thoughts, thoughts about denying Hashem, or worthless thoughts which clutter a person’s mind for hours on end. They also influence one’s dreams, causing keri (nocturnal emissions) (Sha’ar Hakavanos, Part 2, Sukkos; Taharas Hakodesh). The ultimate challenge Every one of the 70 nations has sunken into one particularly bad trait or temptation. However, 8 What is Shmiras Habris? sexual temptation is the all inclusive evil, within which the evil of all the nations unite. This evil is the raging fire of temptation that burns within us. Hashem separated us from the nations and exalted us. It is our obligation to separate ourselves from all their evil traits, especially sexual temptation. This is the main difference between the Jewish people and the nations of the world. — The main way the Jewish people come closer to Hashem is through rectifying the bris. The main test and challenge of every Jewish man in this world is to battle this temptation. Shmiras Habris is the main source of Yisroel’s holiness. Every Jew has to strive to be holy and pure and guard oneself to constantly stay away from the very scent of sexual temptation. Sin is not the natural state of the children of Hashem (Likutey Moharan 19, 29, 36; Likutey Moharan II 32; Sichos Haran 115). Tikkun Habris (rectifying the bris) is the ultimate purpose of man (Vilna Goan-Tikuney Hazohar, Tikkun 23, Folio 76, Column 3). A variety of sources on the severity of the sin Wasting seed is a sin from the Torah, and accord- ing to the Gemara one that deserves death from heaven. Halacha teaches that it is more severe than any other sin in the Torah (R’ Moshe Feinstein- Igros Moshe, Even Haezer, Section 3:14, Page 437). What is Shmiras Habris? 9 Sexual temptation is the sin that brought about the mabul (flood). This was the sin of Er son of Yehuda, as it says, “Er… was evil in the eyes of Hashem, and Hashem caused him to die” (Bereishis 38:7). The Gemara greatly elaborates on the severity of this sin. It is also known from the holy sefarim that wasting seed causes poverty and sometimes the death of children (Chofetz Chaim-Machane Yisroel, Article Dvar Be’ito). Even though all transgressions inhibit the flow of spiritual blessings to this world, transgressions whose punishment is kares (a severe decree of separation from heaven) such as wasting seed cause the most damage (Ba’al Hatanya-Igeres Hateshu- vah, Chapter 6). There is no sin in the world which provokes the anger of Hashem as damaging the bris (Zohar Hakodesh 66-67). Desecrating the bris is considered as if one has desecrated all the mitzvos (Sefer Hamidos, Niuf 22; Cf. Sanhedrin 99a). Wasting seed is considered as if one sacrificed one’s children to avodah zarah (idolatry) whose punishment is stoning (Ibid. 48). Spilling seed is more severe than any other sin. It defiles one’s soul in this world and in the world 10 What is Shmiras Habris? to come. One does not merit seeing the glory of the Shechinah (heavenly presence) (Zohar Vayeshev). The generation of the flood committed every possible act of evil; however their fate was not sealed until they threw their blood down on the floor, meaning they would spill their seed on the ground (Zohar Bereishis). From all the sins in the Torah there is none that creates demons like the sin of spilling seed. All the souls who were to be one’s children now intermingle with the sitra achrah (“other side” referring to evil forces). One transforms holiness into impurity, good into evil (Kaf Hachaim 240). Wasting seed is a Torah prohibition according to all authorities (Niddah 13a). R’ Yochanan said “All those who waste seed are punishable by death.” Rav Ami said “It is as if one sheds blood.” Rav Ashi said “It is as if one worships avodah zarah” (Medrash Hagadol, Vayeshev). “There is a type of sexual immorality that is quite common among young people, wasting seed. This comes from ignorance of how damaging this act is. It is an obligation to warn everyone, young and old, about the severity of this matter until they tremble from fear.